Just add sunshine: Holden Cascada road test and review

WHEN Holden's Cascada landed here last year it was the first convertible offered by the brand since 2009.

Built by Opel in Poland, the soft-top remains an important part of Holden's push to ensure they remain competitive in Australia as local manufacturing draws to an end.

It's hard not to have fun in a convertible. We spent a good portion of our week driving very slowly along Noosa's glamour-filled Hastings Street. After all, what's the point of going topless if you can't be seen?

Comfort

The interior of the Cascada has a contemporary feel, a pleasant place to be, with soft leather as a standard offering and comfortable seats.

It does show its age a bit though with a dash that feels cluttered with numerous buttons and dials to acquaint yourself with.

Holden Cascada

Holden claims this is a four-adult car, but room in the rear says otherwise. Naturally, entry and exit is easier with the roof down but certainly the wider door openings help when it's in place.

Cabin storage is good with cup and bottle holders and door bins to store your essentials and even the boot - 280 litres with the roof stowed - is pretty useable. The split-fold rear seats allows you to carry longer items.

On the road

The Cascada shares underpinnings with the previous-generation Astra and the same 1.6-litre turbo-charged four cylinder under the hood.

At 125kW and 250Nm output is far from adrenaline-pumping, but more than adequate in helping the Cascada navigate both city spaces and the open road.

This is a car built for cruising rather than a sharp turn around the twisties, its bulk and weight impeding handling if pushed too hard. The ride is smooth and settled over everything bar the most inconvenient bumps and with the roof down and the wind in your hair it is easy to enjoy the world going by.

You can speak while you are doing it too with the deflector working well to keep wind buffeting and noise to a minimum.

Holden Cascada

What do you get?

Unlike Holden's new Astra for example, the Cascada misses out on safety features like blind spot monitoring and autonomous emergency, plus desirable Apple CarPlay.

Practical and convertible rarely mix, but the seat-belt feeding mechanism means you don't have to stretch awkwardly behind you and the bigger doors makes it easier to get in and out too. The roof - a soft top - is super easy to operate and takes 17 seconds to open or close fully with the mechanism operable at speeds up to 50km/h.

Funky Factor

Agreed a convertible is always going to have that element of cool. The Cascada is more understated than headline grabbing but still turned heads. It has smooth sleek lines with a certain unfrazzled elegance. A little bit more dazzle wouldn't hurt though.

Holden CascadaTamara MacKenzie

The lowdown

The Cascada is a well-rounded offering for people who prefer a convertible built for cruising.

It may feel a little dated but pricing is attractive, it is an easy drive and it has enough kit to keep you comfortable too.